Thank you for the review! Now without further adieu (sp?) here is chapter two
Neji entered the gates to his home. A row of servants aligned the walkway. All with their heads bowed, simultaneously saying "Welcome home, Master Neji." As Nagisa followed just steps behind him, the servants stammered unsure what to say. She was no ordinary guest, an enemy if you will. She heard the whispers of gossip as she walked passed them, entering the main house of the Hyuuga clan.
Neji glanced back at Nagisa, making sure she was still following close behind. She had changed from a white tube top with mesh arms, with her head protector hanging loosely on her waist, and a long white skirt with slits on the sides tied together with mesh; into a pure white kimono that is to represent a pure bride to be. Her strides were with beauty, confidence, and pride but on the inside she was cowering. Everyone had heard of the Hyuuga elder. The man that the current head of the Hyuuga clan confided in was Neji's grandfather. Nagisa shuddered at the thought of encountering him.
Neji could see passed the charade of confidence in her and stopped inside the hollow hallway. Nagisa was sucked in her own world to notice, and bumped right into his strong and warm back.
"I notice when you're nervous, you weave your finger in and out of your hair." Nagisa looked down and her hands to confirm his accusation and she was, indeed, twirling her fingers in a strand of hair. She blushed slightly and tossed back the stray hair with the rest.
"I am not nervous. Anxious, if you will call it that, to get this over with. I do have a life as well, Hyuuga."
He let out a doubtful sigh. "Right... Well this is it. Let me do the talking when I can." to the right of them stood a single door. The atmosphere that seeped from under the door frame was almost suffocating. Neji stepped out from in front of her, placing her in front of him.
"I didn't take you for a coward to hide behind a woman, even worse, your enemy."
"It is custom here that a man leads the way when a woman is lost, but a woman always enters first."
"But a man leads the way in a battlefield and this is no different." she said it in a low hissing voice for only the two to hear, just in case walls become eavesdroppers.
Neji placed his hand on the small of her back, giving her confidence and guiding her into the room, despite her protest. They entered the room together. It was dark, but you could make out the shadow of a man in a corner. This man's eyes were shut, but Neji recognized him as his Uncle. They sat on the two pillows that were placed in the center of the room. Neji's hand never left it's place on her back, and she was grateful.
"I have heard from my son that you have decided to taint our bloodlines with poison." came a voice from within the darkness. It did not belong to Hiashi. "How disappointing. This is not a plan in your destiny."
"Forgive me elder, but things have changed. With my betrothed unable to bare a child, that destiny has changes. Destiny may have laid out its path before me, but fate has other plans." His voice was strong and confident.
A lamp was finally lit in the darkness, revealing the shadow of the elder behind a curtain. "We do not get along with the Belladonna's so why do you seek out the daughter of the clan leader?"
"We sought each other. I do not wish to marry anyone else but her. Our customs have already been broken by reaching outside of the Hyuuga clan, so why is breaking down the barrier between the Hyuuga's and the Belladonna's any different?"
Haishi had to put in his two cents. "How can we let such an impure hair color into this clan?"
"You told me yourself that we are desperate to at least continue our quickly dying lineage by any possible means. You have brought high ranking clans daughters to our clan to taint our blood line, so why not at least let me have the choice of which I choose to taint it with!" Neji stood at his notion to emphasize his argument.
"You will not speak to us in such a manner!" Haishi rose as well but sat back down at the beckoning of his father.
"Calm yourself." Even though there was a curtain between Neji and his grandfather, he could tell that his eyes were baring down on his and his in return bared down on his grandfathers. "I can see that nothing is going to persuade you from choosing a different wife. Lady of the Belladonna clan, what say you?" Nagisa kept quiet, unmoving from her seated position, and the elder once more repeated himself.
Haishi was becoming increasingly irritated at her silence. Even Neji was beginning to worry for her mental health. "Child! Are you deaf?" yelled Haishi.
"My status may not have any meaning inside of your clan, but I will not be addressed by anyone who hides himself with a curtain." The three of them were baffled, unable to speak a word.
Haishi was the first to break the silence. "Why you insolent little brat!" He jumped up and charged at Nagisa but before he could defend his father's honor, Neji stood in-between them with his byakugan activated.
"Level your head, Hiashi!" came the booming voice of the elder. "As the leader of this clan, I had expected more civility from you. Thus the very reason why I still have to sit in this chair that is meant for the leader." Behind the curtain, his shadowed figure stood up and stepped out from the curtain. He made his way across the room and directly faced, the now standing, Nagisa. "You are correct about your status here. We view your clan as lower than the dirt we walk on." Nagisa remained unwavered by his insult and let him continue. "But for the sake of my grandson and the sake of our clan, I will let you remain here. But you will have to accustom to our ways. You will not be treated as part of the main branch family until the day you wed. You will be treated as you are an outsider."
Neji cut in. "Then I as well will be treated as an outsider."
"Stay out if this, Hyuuga." warned Nagisa. "I accept your conditions. May our families finally have a common bond with one another?" She bowed politely to the elder.
Hiashi struck it odd that she did not address her "love" by his name, but thought that it could be because of the company she is in front of.
I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter. The next one will be out as soon as possible. Love you guys!